Faith and Belief in Psychedelic Therapy

What is it about?

Recent research challenges a central criticism of psychedelic therapy known as the “Comforting Delusion Objection.” This objection holds that while psychedelics may improve mental well-being, they also induce comforting yet false metaphysical beliefs. The concern is that such beliefs—such as a perceived connection to a higher power or a unified cosmic order—could lead to significant epistemic harm by distorting one’s understanding of reality. In response, the paper argues that the attitudes formed during psychedelic experiences are better characterized as forms of faith rather than conventional beliefs. Unlike beliefs, which are based on evidence and are subject to rigorous epistemic evaluation, faith is a non-doxastic commitment. This means that faith involves a personal trust or acceptance that does not require the same standards of evidence and is therefore not vulnerable to the same criticisms regarding truth and falsity. The analysis reviews several responses to the objection and introduces what is termed the “Faithful Response.” By distinguishing between belief and faith, the argument demonstrates that the metaphysical attitudes resulting from psychedelic experiences do not cause the epistemic harm attributed to false beliefs. Consequently, the primary concern behind the Comforting Delusion Objection is undermined, supporting the view that psychedelic therapy can be offered without the risk of inducing epistemically harmful attitudes. This perspective invites a reevaluation of the epistemic implications of psychedelic therapy and suggests that the benefits of these treatments should be considered without undue concern over the formation of non-evidential metaphysical attitudes.

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Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important because it challenges a key criticism of psychedelic therapy—that it induces harmful, false beliefs that could distort our understanding of reality. By arguing that the mental attitudes resulting from psychedelic experiences are better understood as forms of faith rather than conventional beliefs, the work reframes the debate. It alleviates concerns about the epistemic harm purportedly caused by psychedelic therapy, suggesting that the therapeutic benefits can be achieved without misleading patients about the nature of reality.